Install the VMM Console

This article describes how to install the System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) console on a remote computer and connect to the VMM server. When you install the VMM management server, the console is installed on it automatically.

Note

The default timeout value for a VMM client session is 330 seconds, and it's specific to each client. To update the timeout value, create IndigoSendTimeout registry in all the client machines from where the timeout needs to be configured. The registry is located at Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager Administrator Console\Settings.

The registry is of type DWORD (32-bit), the minimum value is 330 seconds, and the maximum is 900 seconds (15 minutes).

Before you start

• Check the supported operating systems for the console that are detailed in the system requirements.
• Review and ensure you meet the system requirements. Learn about system requirements.
• Ensure that you have at least local administrator permissions on the computer on which you're installing the console.

• The VMM version of the console must match the System Center version of the VMM server. For example, to connect to a VMM server running System Center 2022, the VMM console version must also be 2022.

• You can only install one version of the console on a single machine.

Run setup

1. Review the planning instructions. Then, right-click setup.exe for VMM > Run as administrator.
2. On the main setup page, select Install and on the Select features to install page, select the VMM console checkbox, and then select Next. On the Please read this notice page, select the I agree with the terms of this notice checkbox, and then select Next.
3. Review the information on the Diagnostic and Usage Data page, and then select Next. On the Microsoft Update page, select whether you want to use Microsoft Update, and then select Next. This page won't appear if updates are already installed.
4. On the Installation location page, enter an installation path for the VMM program files or use the default path, and then select Next. Setup checks that the computer meets the console installation requirements.
5. On the Port configuration page, enter the port that you want to use for the VMM console to communicate with the VMM management server, and then select Next. The port setting that you assign for the VMM console should match the port setting that you assigned for the VMM console during the installation of the VMM management server. The default port setting is 8100. Also, don't assign port number 5986 because it's preassigned.
6. On the Installation summary page, review the settings and select Install. The Installing features page appears and displays the installation progress.
7. On the Setup completed successfully page, select Close to finish the installation. Select Open the VMM console when this wizard closes to open the console after the wizard finishes. If setup doesn't finish successfully, consult the log files in the %SYSTEMDRIVE%\ProgramData\VMMLogs folder. ProgramData is a hidden folder.

If you want to uninstall the console, do the following:

1. In the Control Panel, select to uninstall a program and select Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager.
2. In Select features to remove, select VMM console. On the VMM management server, you can't uninstall the console without uninstalling VMM management.
3. In Summary, review the settings and select Uninstall.

Install the console from the command prompt

You can install the VMM administrator console from the command line by using the VMClient.ini file to customize the installation options. You can set the parameters as follows:

Parameter	Value
ProgramFiles	Specify the location in which to store program files.
IndigoTCpPort	Specify the port number used to communicate with the VMM server.
MUOptIn	0: Don't opt in to Microsoft Update. 1: Opt in.
VmmServerForOpsMgrConfig	Specify the name of the System Center Operations Manager server.
IACCEPTSCUELA	Specifies that you have read, understood, and accepted the terms of use.

Install the console as follows:

1. Copy the VMClient.ini file from the amd64\Setup folder to a local folder.
2. Edit the VMClient.ini file. Remove the comment indicator (#) only if you want to edit the entry. Otherwise, setup uses the values in the .ini file as the default values.
3. Run setup as follows: setup.exe /client /i /f <path>, where:
   • /client - specifies console installation
   • /i or /x - specify whether to install (/i) or uninstall (/x) the console.
   • /f <filename> - specifies the ini file to use. Make sure this is correct. If setup doesn't find the ini file, it installs with default values.
   • path: location of ini file.
   • Don't use the /opsmgr parameter

Example: setup.exe /client /i /f C:\Temp\VMClient.ini.

Connect to a VMM management server

1. On the remote machine desktop, select the VMM console icon if the console isn't open.
2. Specify the server name and port on which the VMM server is listening (8100 by default). For example, vmmserver01:8100.
3. You can use the account with which you're signed in to the remote machine or specify a different account to connect to VMM. Select Automatically connect with these settings if you want to connect to the same VMM server each time.
4. Select Connect. Select User Role appears if the credentials you're using belong to more than one VMM user roles.